Longevity, fecundity and development time of eucalyptus gall wasp, Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand.

Abstract

Biological information of L. invasa in Thailand is extremely limited. This study examined the longevity, fecundity and development time of this gall wasp. The galled leaves and gall wasps were sampled from Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantations in Kanchanaburi province and were conducted in the laboratory and ventilated greenhouse. The results showed that feeding L. invasa with honey solution could prolong the mean longevity of females (7.67±0.93 days) and that of males (5.67±0.47 days). The average potential fecundity of females was 158.70±4.62 eggs per a female. As size increased the potential fecundity of L. invasa tended to increased. The realized fecundity indicated that L. invasa is a pro-ovigenic species. The mean progeny per female was highest on the first day (30.47±7.41 progeny female -1 ) and lowest on the sixth day. The reproductive mode of L. invasa is deuterotoky. The development time of L. invasa from egg to adult was 45.96±0.52 days, ranging from 35 to 73 days.